Device for facilitating the alighting of aeroplanes on moving warships.



P. FILIASI. DEVICE FOR FACILITATING THE ALIGHTING OF AEROPLANES 0N MOVING wIhswI-aa APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1912.

Patented Aug. 6, 1511? OFFICE.

- rmmcnsco rumor, or NAPLES, ITALY. l miwon ronraclnrmrmo THE rename or Aeaormns on movnm waitsmrs.

Specification of mm;

Patented Aug. 6; 1912.

Application filed January 2a, 1912. lcflal- Re. mm.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCESCO FILIABI,

gentleman, a subject of the King of Ital residing at Palazzo Cellamarea Chiaia, 1n

the city of Naples, Kingdom of Italy, have device, which facilitates landing of aeroplanes on warships. v

' The device of my invention substantially consists of a supporting plane structure which is adapted to trail from the stern of the ship so as to form an inclined plane from the water surface to the ships deck. Thissupporting plane or net ismaintained. taut by means such as floats, and the aeroplane is advanced along the said net onto the deck.

In the annexed drawing, Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a plan "low, a side view and a view of the device seen from the after ship;

The device may consist of a close-meshed trapezoidal net -a+- of strong; hempen ropes or other suitable material. The smaller end is curved so as to fit the outline of the stern ofthe ship. The broader end -b is provided at the corners with floats c, and the. oblique sides are reinforced with steel cables which are connected with the floats. These floats have polygonal cross-sections and a suitable floating power; their position with respect to the net, and

the connection with the steel rope are chosen. so as to have the tendcnce of turning one edge toward the direction of the course of the ship. Along the middle line of the net there is azone c which, by applying a hand of strong sailcloth, is strengthened and, to some extent stiffened:

The whole deviceis let down onto the sea '1- whereby t of the water upon the floats ccauses them' to spread as shown by the arrows e bases b are stretched and the whole net is heldextended.

In order to avoid any trouble fro'ni'the ro ellers, when letting down the net, the former may be stopped for a: few seconds and when the floats, are 20' or 30 meters ofi the propellers do not interfere with the operative disposition of the net.

The alightin aeroplane "-n ia beadvanced along't 'ie center of t e"net"1n'land-.

ing. The ban e books into, steel'jrope out of the aeroplane; thisg at the rope passes around a roller on a crane harilid about a Windlass k-. In'this way t e h aeroplane can be drawn on board the S 1p, 5 I

The weightof the aeroplane wh'efi advancing upon the net, causes th slightly yield, but on account of the action of the water on the floats, when the ship is under way, the net is prevented from com-' ing into contact with the water. However, it will beconvenient to provide. the, aeroplane with shoes 'qm having a considerable breadth so as to enable them to rest upon a consfderszhio portion of the net to avoid tearing the meshes. The said shoes, when conveniently shaped, may also serve e same to.

as hydroplanes in case the aeroplane, during flight, should come into contact with the water.

If the ship is at rest, the supporting net If the aeroplaneis'sheltered on board the ship, for instance at n- (Fig. 1), and it is to be lowered, it is put into motion in the direction of the oblique line --;u-,, or it is caused to slide on rails or with any other mechanical means, for instance by means of a rope wound on a drum which is moved electrically.

I claim 1. An hirship alighting means for ships comprising in combination, a trapezoidal flexible plane structure having a smaller end secured to the end of the ship and a larger end trailing in the roar thereof, the larger end having a width sullieicnl to dispose the lateral. p rtions thereof on opposite sides of and means on the ship for drawing the air- U ship along. such structure on toath-e ship,

substantially as described. y

2. An airship alight-mg means for ships comprising in combination, a tra zoidal mesh plane structure having a sma ler'end secured tothe stern of theship and a lar er end trailing in the rear-thereof, floats or supporting the lateral ortions of the trailing end, means for sti ening the longitudinal central portion of the structure, and means on the ship for'drawing 'the'airship along said plane onto the ship; substantially structure secured to the vessel with the free end trailing in the water, and buoyant mechanism secured to said structure to maintain the same taut longitudinally and-laterally, substantially as described.

5. An airship alightiug means for comprising in combination, a flexible plane structure having a smaller end secured to the'vessel and a larger end trailing in the Water from the vessel, and buoyant mechanism secured to the larger trailing end of longitudinally and laterally, substantially as described.

6. An airship alighting means for vessels comprising in combination, a flexible plane structure secured to a vessel and having its free end trailing in the water, and .buoyant devices disposed on opposite sides of the 'wake of the vessel for maintaining the structure taut laterally and longitudinally, substantially as described.

7. In combination, a vessel, and an airship alighting means comprising a flexible plane structure having one portion secured to the vessel and a buoyant free end portion supported oh the surface of the water, ,and means for stifl'ening the structure, substantially as described. V y 1 In testimony whereotI have a'liixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANCESCO FILIASI.

Witnesses A; NICOLI lAnIPi,

vessels \VILLIAM Gxucmnu.

said structure to maintain the same taut 

